Visa IPO Should Speed
Innovations in Payments

Rivalry With MasterCard
Will Encompass Investors,
Acquisitions, New Services

By

Robin Sidel

Updated Oct. 12, 2006 12:01 a.m. ET

The transformation of Visa into a public company is likely to accelerate innovation in the electronic-payments industry, which already is racing to find new ways for consumers to pay for goods and services.

Visa's planned initial public offering, announced yesterday, also will intensify its rivalry with newly public MasterCard Inc. After years of battling MasterCard at the cash register, Visa will now find itself competing for...